Does Your Dialogue Need Some Work?

The dialogue in a story can be very powerful and influential, drawing different emotions from readers for a wide variety of purposes. Straight from an author’s pen, the written conversations between characters often jump off the page speaking lessons into existence through words of humor, love, or at times even anger. The power of speech is a force to be reckoned with in the fictional world, but also in the real world.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what your dialogue in real life accomplishes? When your voice is heard, what is it giving to the hearer?

While most writers may seem to be an introverted bunch, there will always come a point when they can no longer hide behind their pens ( or their screens ). Their stories and their characters can only speak up for them so much. It’s important that we sharpen our own daily dialogue as well.

I’m 24 years old and I’m still terrified at the idea of speaking in front of a large group of people. Who am I kidding? I still get nervous sometimes speaking one-on-one to strangers. I’m a writer and yet I stumble over my words way too often and accidentally string non-words together in such a way that frequently amuses my hubby. I’ve realized in those moments how grateful I am to be able to edit my way through my written work. You can’t take back so easily the words that slip off your tongue. That’s why we have to make our spoken words count for something.

Yes, writers need to be masters of the pen, but they also need to be masters of the tongue. Every day of our lives there will be a need to speak words of life and love.

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Colossians 4:6

There are so many wonderful verses on speaking edifying words to those around us. There are also many on the dangers of speaking the wrong words. Our tongues must be ruled with caution.

“The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth… Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

James 3:6a & 9-10

The book of James practically shouts out the dangers of the tongue when not used for the Lord’s service and in the way He tells us. May we learn from Scripture how to use our mouths to glorify God and apply that to our stories as well.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14

Writers spend a lot of time creating conversations between fictional characters. We must not forget that our own dialogue is extremely important to our life story, which God has purposed and called to serve Him too. May He strengthen, correct and guide our own dialogue for His greater story as well.

Remember, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”  Matthew 12:34

Are you guarding your tongue as a fire or are you underestimating the power of your words?

Do you find it easy or difficult to voice your thoughts?

Is there a verse that speaks directly to you? I’d love to hear it!